Wednesday, November 18, 1998 Published at 07:32 GMTUKMI5 agent waits on French verdictDavid Shayler could learn his fate on WednesdayA French court is expected to decide on Wednesday whether a
former British intelligence officer, David Shayler, should be extradited to
stand trial in Britain.

Mr Shayler is accused of breaking the UK's Official
Secrets Act by disclosing information to a Sunday newspaper.

He
alleged that officers from the UK Government's foreign intelligence
service, MI6, tried to organise the assassination of the Libyan leader, Colonel
Muammar Gaddafi - a claim denied by the UK Government.

Mr Shayler, 32, was arrested by French police at Scotland Yard's
request last August.

John Wadham expects Mr Shayler to be released if extradition fails

The attempt to get him extradited is the culmination of a 14-month British
police investigation which began after the former MI5 operative made his allegations.

Mr Shayler told an extradition hearing in Paris last month that he moved to
France after revealing details of secret service life in a Sunday newspaper.

His English lawyer, John Wadham, director of the campaigning organisation
Liberty, said that if the extradition request was denied, Mr Shayler would expect
to be released from custody immediately.

But if the UK Government request is approved he would be returned to
prison to await formal procedures which could take a week before he was sent
back to the UK.